Saturday, 26 May 2012

I've been very busy and have yet another new painting, Autumn Oak, which shows one of my favourite trees shedding its leaves at the end of Autumn, while the promise of new life is concealed within in the form of a acorn. The setting sun also circles a glimpse inside the mound where a fox is sleeping, nestled amongst the roots of the tree. I've always loved the way acorns look like little green eggs sitting in their own egg-cups, bursting with life, so the words around the painting read:

Autumn sees the falling of my crown, yet to spring's hope I life a thousand tiny cups to the light and, furled within, the secret of my entire Kingdom - SW

Autumn Oak can be ordered as a limited edition giclee print from my website at Galley Hill Art.

Friday, 18 May 2012

Another Tree of Life but this one has gone cosmic - I can't see that I'll ever stop painting them! Each one has been a series of developments from the Indian Tree of Life and Knowledge that I painted a few years ago, based on the simplified image of a 17th century Indian chola bronze tree of life. It was a shape I fell in love with and here it is again.

There are so many complex spiritual symbols and layers of meaning in this painting that I couldn't begin to describe them. I think it's better if I just let it speak for itself, hoping that others will discover them as they study it. Like a lot of my paintings, it went 'off piste' and took it's own course. Originally it was the other way up - which made more sense to me as I was painting it. Then I accidentally put it upside down to take stock of it and decided that I liked it much better that way! But to me it was still 'wrong' so I intended to keep it the way I originally painted it. A few days later, I was ready to put the writing around the border. I always start at the bottom. I really thought I'd put it the 'right' way up... until I'd finished, and then I realised that I had, indeed, done it upside down. I guess the painting was always meant to be that way, with the dark above emerging from the light below. Sometimes you just can't fight these things!

The words around the border are from the Chandogya Upanishad and read:

As great as the infinite space beyond is the space within the lotus of the heart,Both heaven and earth are contained in that inner space,Both fire and air, sun and moon, lightening and stars.

Cosmic Tree of Life is available as a limited edition giclee print from my website Galley Hill Art.

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

On 2nd June I'll be taking part in a Jubilee Day Art Event at the Chiltern Gateway Centre on Dunstable Downs with fellow artists from the Artists Network Bedfordshire. As well as an exhibition and individual craft stalls, there will be demonstrations, a video about the ANB and a chance to talk to a wide range of local artists. Dunstable Downs is a spectacular location so this would be a great day out!

This coming Monday 14th May there is also a chance to support MacMillan Cancer Support at their Fashion Show and Summer Fair at The Meadow Barn, Tewin Bury Farm, Hertford Road, Nr. Welwyn, Herts AL6 0JB. The Fair is open from 10.30 and I will have my stall set up for both before and after the show.